Anna Ayres

Position:: Operations Manager
Theme(s):: Viral Infectious Diseases, Antimicrobial Resistance, Hepatitis
Discipline(s):: Global Health, Indigenous Health, Public Health
Unit(s):: Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory (VIDRL)

Anna Ayres is a Senior Medical Scientist and the Operations Manager for the Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory (VIDRL). Anna has over 20 years of experience in research, with an emphasis on virology and molecular biology. Prior to her current role, Anna was part of the Research and Molecular Development department, investigating and diagnosing clinically significant hepatitis B (HBV) mutations, in particular mutations associated with drug resistance. Other research interests include perinatal transmission of HBV during pregnancy. As Operations Manager for VIDRL, Anna is responsible for the day-to- day operations of the diagnostic services VIDRL provides for clinics and hospitals, as well as state and international functions.

Key Achievements

Key Achievements
- Anna’s key scientific career achievements include the development of a diagnostic test involved in the identification of antiviral drug resistant mutations in HBV. More recently, Anna was involved in investigating the prevalence of perinatal transmission of HBV in Australia and the impact of antiviral therapy use during pregnancy to reduce the risk of transmitting the virus. One of Anna’s more recent career highlights was as a key member of the project team involved in designing, planning and relocating VIDRL into the Doherty Institute.